Out of Tune
- Margaret doesn't necessarily expect much happiness from Mr. Bell's visit. But when he comes, she is surprised to find just how much he cheers her up. He is her godfather, after all, and he and Margaret like to kid around with each other.
- Margaret finds out that Mr. Thornton will be coming over to see Mr. Bell, since the two of them are friends and business associates.
- When Mr. Thornton shows up, he sees Margaret and Mr. Hale looking at a letter, which Margaret quickly puts out of sight. They explain to Mr. Thornton that the letter is from Henry Lennox in London, and that it has made Margaret very hopeful. We of course know that they're talking about Frederick's lawsuit. Mr. Thornton, though, can only assume that Margaret is waiting for a marriage proposal from this Lennox fellow.
- Mr. Bell starts joking about how all the men from Milton want to make more money without ever wondering about why they want it in the first place.
- Mr. Thornton insists that money isn't what he's after. When asked what he really wants, he says he'd rather not say.
- Mr. Bell mentions that in their previous conversation, Margaret was saying really nice things about Milton and its manufacturers. This comment surprises Mr. Thornton, who has always thought Margaret looked down on him and his kind.
- Mr. Thornton then gives a little speech about how the men of Milton like to be left to their own devices, and to manage their factories whatever way they wish. They like to make decisions for themselves rather than having the government impose things on them.
- He admits, though, that the most recent workers' strike has been a respectable one. Mr. Bell is astounded to hear Mr. Thornton refer to any strike as respectable, since he has always known the guy to hate organized labor.
- Margaret tries to divert the conversation onto more trivial subjects. But Mr. Thornton makes a sarcastic remark that keeps her silent for the rest of the conversation. He instantly feels bad about it, and leaves.
- After he is gone, Mr. Bell talks about how touchy Mr. Thornton is. The guy can't handle being contradicted by anyone. His money has made him too proud.
- Margaret insists, though, that there must be something particularly bothering Mr. Thornton. She knows what it is, but won't get into details.
- After Margaret leaves, Mr. Bell asks Mr. Hale whether Margaret and Thornton have a special affection for each other.
- Mr. Hale is amazed at this idea. He says that if there is any affection, it must be on Thornton's side only.
- Mr. Bell drops the subject and goes to bed. Mr. Hale, on the other hand, lies awake that night thinking about Mr. Bell's theory.
- When he leaves the next day, Mr. Bell promises that he'll always look out for Margaret. He even promises that when he returns, he'll bring a young man who'll be a great match for Margaret in marriage. Mr. Hale tells him not to bother, though, since he wants Margaret to stay at his side.
- Mr. Bell offers for Mr. Hale and Margaret to come live with him, but Mr. Hale refuses, saying that he must live out his life in the town where his wife has died.
- So the narrator tells us that Mr. Hale and Margaret have fallen back into their regular, boring life.
- Over this time, Margaret hears about Mr. Thornton from Higgins, who says that Mr. Thornton is a coin with two sides. One is a hard-nosed businessman and the other…well…isn't. Higgins insists that he's never afraid to speak his mind to Mr. Thornton.
- Over time, Mr. Thornton comes less and less often to the Hales' house for lessons. Mr. Hale is sad not to see him as much, since he was Mr. Hale's favorite student.
- One evening Mr. Hale repeats Mr. Bell's guess and asks Margaret whether she thinks Mr. Thornton has a special liking for her. Margaret is totally blindsided by the question.
- She admits that Thornton proposed to her and that she refused him. She admits that she is probably the reason Mr. Hale has lost Mr. Thornton as a student.
- Mr. Hale is shocked to find Margaret crying as she says this. She changes the subject by talking about how her cousin Edith will be returning to London the next day.
- Mr. Hale suggests a change of scenery to help Margaret feel better. He thinks she should visit the Lennoxes for two weeks in London and talk directly to Henry Lennox to see what Frederick's chances of being acquitted are.
- Margaret says she won't go anywhere without her father, though. She also says she's losing hope about Frederick's chances.
- The chapter ends with the narrator telling us about how the Hales don't really have anyone in Milton whom they can speak to about important spiritual things.